Would you wear it? Shirt Stays

Got an email the other day from the creators of a product that… well, here’s what it says on their website:.

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Shipping is free. The creators say a similar… contraption? is used by the U.S. Army during dress parades.

Sometimes your shirt rides up out of your pants. Sometimes, your socks slide down during the day thanks to gravity. These would in fact solve both of those issues. And assuming you don’t remove your pants in public, your own personal garment bungee bondage would be your secret to keep.

Or, they’re just too out-there, and if you wore suspenders with them at the same time, the stylistic space time continuum might warp, sending you to a quasi dimension where pant waists had collars, shirts had loops for neck belts, and Slash plays the hurdy gurdy.

Every cadet at military academies learns to use these, a set is $4 on post, and you’d be hard pressed to find a senior NCO or officer that doesn’t use them for both their Class A’s or when they break out a civilian suit…

I was just thinking about this type of product the other day…. Wearing slim cut shirts with pants that sit below the waist (like so many are now) results in many an untucked shirt for me. I think my wife would kill me if I wore these.

I wore two pairs of shirt stays (one for the front of the shirt, one for the back) every day through 4 years at a military college and you can quickly get used to them. I have a few shirts that are just a little bit larger than I’d like, but not so large that they warrant being tailored — with properly applied shirt stays they look as great as my custom tailored shirts.

I have some, but only wear them with my dress blues (ASU). I grew up with my dad always wearing them with his As or Bs (wear he worked he wore Bs about everyday. Never worn them for civilian wear though.

They look pretty uncomfortable, not to mention ridiculous. Can you really move while wearing these? And what if you’re not wearing socks like during the summer months? I’ll put up with the “inconvenience” of having to tuck my shirt in. It’s tough being a man sometimes…

My boss is a former Marine and turned me in on this secret several months ago. I couldn’t be happier.

Folks, why wouldn’t you wear this? Once you wear them for a week, you will neither notice them nor worry about an unsightly untucked shirt.

The ones he got me warp under the foot so I wear them inside the sock. They help me looking sharp every day without trying. Meanwhile, I see my co-workers sloppily shoving their shirt down their pants.

I wouldn’t wear these for a night on the town (imagine taking somebody home and having to explain this?) , but they seem like a godsend for work events, especially long conferences where I’m sitting/standing/sitting/standing/etc.

We wear belts to hold up our pants, tie bars to keep our ties in place and use laces/buckles to secure our shoes to our feet, these look like they’re in the same category to me. The only difference is they are hidden, and don’t double as style pieces like a belt for instance. I’d wear them if they make me look more dapper, isnt that the point?

I’ve been in the military for twelve years and wear these any time I’m wearing a uniform with a tucked in shirt. They do make a noticeable difference. I have never worn them in a civilian suit. They do make a dress shirt look sharp, so maybe I’ll try it some time. One drawback is that the elastic rubs on your legs as you walk and rips out your leg hair.

Wear them all the time at work. It not only helps keep your tails tucked in, but even with a slim cut shirt, keeps it tucked tight at the waistband instead of blousing up when you lift your arms above your shoulders, or getting up and down a lot.

You can mostly likely find these in any Army Navy store for WAY cheaper and will be just as good and efficient. Just like it says all the military types will use this with their Class A uniforms and even the ROTC kids in college and high schools will know about them. Might issue that they almost keep your shirt too plastered down. If you’re carrying a few extra pounds there’s no hiding it with these on.

Think about it this way: a man constantly sticking his hand down his pants to tuck in his shirt is our equivalent of a girl constantly pulling the front of her strapless dress up so her boobs don’t fall out…sure it’s fun to watch, but you won’t take her seriously.

These things do work. They’re elastic so they don’t restrict movement, and you don’t really notice them after the first time. No one else notices either.

It’s one of those detail things – I doubt anyone will ever judge you because your shirt is poofing out too much. But I bet someone will notice that you never look like a slob, and you do it so effortlessly too.

10 years in the Marines… love/hate relationship with these guys. Mostly hate. They work, but you may find by the end of the day you’ve rubbed a bald spot onto your leg. Worn as pictured with slim pants they can sometimes interfere with the line of the trouser, especially when seated. Worn wrapped halfway round the leg in opposite directions, as I was taught to do, can help with that issue (and a bit with billowy shirts) but increases your discomfort. Just get shirts tailored or MTM, and if your socks drive you nuts, get a sock garter.

Been in the Air Force for almost 15 years, have been wearing shirt garters (that’s what we call them, anyway) since 1998. Once they’re on, you won’t notice them. And they work! For those who think these are too “un-manly” to wear, consider that they’ve been worn by Eisenhower, Patton, Schwartzkopf, Petraeus, Nimitz, Boyington, Yeager, and literally millions of NCOs and officers who have been making bad guys dead for nearly two centuries. If that’s not manly, your definition of “manly” needs work.

And yeah…if you pay more than eight bucks for a decent pair, you’re doing it wrong!

I’m a police officer. I have two sets of these, and they actually loop around my heal. It keeps you looking good, I learned the secret while in the USAF. Currently,I’m trying out a “belt stay”. It has the same purpose, but also keeps your pants up ( along with the heavy duty belt) and the shirt tucked in. Appearance is very important with my job.

Agree…they should cross on the side of the knee. This keeps them taut and unseen, and it also greatly minimizes the risk of getting snapped in the sack should a clasp come undone (very rare, but a risk worth mentioning).

Seems a bit much to me. I’m not willing to wear those to keep my socks up and I usually don’t have any issues with my shirt untucking itself. Not to mention I have a feeling those buckles and straps would wreak havoc with my leg hair.

I had some of these that I wore with dress blues during my time in the USAF. At first they were extremely uncomfortable, but after 2-3 wears you get used to them being there and they definitely keep your shirt where you want it better than anything else.

I still have a few sets from when I was in the Marines, I break them out for special occasions when I know I’ll be needing to look my best, like weddings etc. They can get a bit uncomfortable so I wouldn’t wear them every day.

Shirt untuck versus mobility is a perennial problem for me. As a concert violinist, I need my shirt to have enough give so that I can keep my arms raised at a proper height. If my shirt stayed THAT well tucked, I’m worried it would inhibit my performance.

Ive actually got a pair, I wear them I guess on special occasions when I know I gotta look sharp. I have also worn then tender coffee bars, idea is that no matter how much you bend, street, lift your upper body, your shirts stays in. For all those says just get a longer shirt, the problem still arises where you will need to push your bunched up shirt back down your pants frequently.
Plus if your wondered how people will perceive them, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Growing up in a military family, I know for a fact that my dad and brother wear these all the time when wearing their military formal uniforms. I, too, have picked up on this habit and (while my girlfriend does poke fun of me) I love them. Even when wearing a well-tailored shirt; pants are being made to ride lower and lower and shirt tails are being made shorter and shorter. The combination of the two has most men showing their hips because the sides of their shirts are coming untucked OR have men constantly digging their hands into their pants to shove their shirts back down. Neither are very pretty. Shirt stays are incredible options, ESPECIALLY if you are in the business of moving a lot while dressed up (bartenders who always reach to the top shelf to get that special bottle of wine, etc.)

As a Marine officer, I can tell you that 1) you easily grow accustomed to these things wrapped around your leg and 2) these are the difference between a well-dressed Marine in his Service or dress uniforms and poorly-dressed Marine.

With all that, I don’t wear them in the civilian world when I wear suits. If the occasion arises where I need to dress up without a jacket, I will definitely wear these.

There is a thing called “Hidden Tailor” that can be picked up in military and police supply/surplus stores. It is a rubbery belt that has these knobby bits on it that you wear over the shirt and under your pants. The belt is stretchy and holds your shirt in place, while the knobby bits will keep your pants from moving if you are not wearing a belt. The only downside is that if you manage to pull your shirt up (reaching for something on the top shelf) you will need to go to the restroom and pull it back down again.

I wear these whenever I am wearing a dress shirt. As has already been alluded too you can place them in the right spots to make slightly loose fitting shirts look snug. Also keeps the entire outfit looking slick.

Although I agree its every mans job to look sharp.. I think this is one of those items that should be worn sparingly. Picture yourself wearing these at work, impressing your female colleagues with your charm and style, and then the aghast look on her face when shes over your place and…. finds them.

Though exceptions can always be made for those in law enforcement or the military.

I’ll freely admit that at first I thought they did look a touch like a torture device but after giving them a try for the first time I was hooked. Speaking on behalf of the rest of the bartenders at The Scotch of St James. None of us would ever think about starting our shift without wearing them and has become a part of our uniform! Nice work boys!

I get the dress uniform usage (police, military, etc), but for a day-to-day item, it just seems to be too much about appearances for me. Don’t get me wrong, I HATE billowy button-downs – but that’s why I buy slim fit, visit my tailor, and deal with the occasional untucked hem. These just seem to be of the same character as the guy on the far right on those overdressed/pretentious/”talk about style too much” continuums that have been featured on the site.

Using Tukz would mean I wouldn’t be able to wear any of my existing underwear as I wear shirt stays everyday. Would need to buy 10 sets of tukz as opposed to 1 set of shirt stays. I’m also worried about getting a wedgie.

Everyone asks why the Marines look best in their dress uniforms. Well now our secret is out. Shirt stays that are taught (to the point of threatening to come loose and snap at your manhood) take pounds off even the softest of men. One thing to note is to ensure that your trousers are tailored properly at the waist, as utilizing these will accentuate the transition between trousers belt and shirt. They work great for the civilian world as well, but i suggest loosening them up so that when you sit down with your knees bent the shirt stays have minimal tension, just enough to keep them from going slack. If you are obsessed with keeping everything in its place appearance wise, tighten them up more. You can also take a safety pin through the sock/shirt and clasp on the shirt stay in order to have a fail safe in case one comes free and tries to slingshot you in the boys.

I have come accross these before when considering regular sock garters. Over-the-calf socks eliminate the need for standard sock garters, but I like colorful/patterned socks, which means I can’t always find over-the-calf styles. I might just give these a try now that I know so many military gents use them. They seem like a great idea, as long as they’re not uncomfortable.

I have thought about disrobing in front of someone else for whatever reason, but once they knew what they were for, they would either be impressed or think you’re a little OCD about your clothing.

I just wonder if they would cause bulges where the clips are under my fairly slim pants. There’s only one way to find out…

just so you know guys, these are more annoying for women, i had to wear them in the military and its hard to go to the restroom. unlike you guys, we have to sit, which for some means holding thees the whole time we go or unhooking them everytime. but hey, they are worth it for a PERFECTLY tucked shirt

Along the lines of this conversation we make belts that lock your shirt into place without garters. However, we also make the garters too. Ours have a patented pin that has a grip stronger than a pitbulls bite. We have both styles of garters that clip front and back or the type that goes under your heel all with the pin. Some people use both products together actually. Our military and police customers like the belt because it does work well with their utility belt.

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